
83A012721BA 
Sitting correctly and safely 
  
Sitting correctly and 
safely 
Correct passenger 
seating position 
General information 
As the driver, you are responsible for making sure 
every passenger is sitting correctly in their seat 
and maintaining this seating position while driv- 
ing. Make sure that: 
— Every passenger in the vehicle has adjusted his 
or her seat correctly > page 53 
— The steering wheel is adjusted correctly 
=> page 56 
— The mirrors are adjusted so that there is a suffi- 
cient view of the area around the vehicle 
=> page 47 
— Every passenger in the vehicle has his or her 
head restraint adjusted correctly > page 57 
— Every passenger in the vehicle has his or her 
safety belt fastened correctly > page 58 
—The activation status of the front passenger's 
airbag is suitable for the passenger in the front 
passenger's seat > page 64 
— Children are secured in suitable child safety 
seats that are secured to appropriate vehicle 
seats > page 66. Read and observe the impor- 
tant safety information pertaining to the use of 
child safety seats on the front passenger's seat 
=> A in General information on page 66. 
Examples of incorrect seating positions 
Safety belts can only provide its optimal protec- 
tion when they are routed correctly. Incorrect 
seating positions significantly reduce the protec- 
tive functions of the safety belts and increase the 
risk  of injury due to incorrect belt routing. 
The following list includes examples of seating 
positions that could be dangerous for all vehicle 
occupants. This is not a complete list. The pur- 
pose is to provide examples to increase your 
awareness of the topic. The following points ap- 
ply when the vehicle is in motion: 
— Never stand inside the vehicle. 
— Never stand on the seats. 
— Never kneel on the seats. 
— Never tilt your backrest too far back. 
— Never lean against the instrument panel. 
— Never lie down on the rear bench seat. 
— Never sit only on the front section of the seat. 
— Never sit sideways on the seat. 
— Never lean against the window. 
— Never place your feet out of the window. 
— Never place your feet on the instrument panel. 
— Never place your feet on the seat cushion. 
— Never ride in the footwell. 
— Never sit on the armrests. 
— Never drive or ride in a seat without fastening 
your safety belt. 
— Never ride in the luggage compartment. 
  
ZA WARNING 
Incorrect seating positions, failure to wear a 
safety belt, or being too close to an airbag in- 
crease the risk of serious or fatal injury to ve- 
hicle occupants, especially if the airbags de- 
ploy and come into contact with occupants 
who are not seated correctly. Note the impor- 
tant information and warnings in the chapters 
for the topics given above. 
Gi) Tips 
If you or other vehicle passengers have physi- 
cal limitations that prevent sitting in a correct 
position, modifications to the vehicle may be 
necessary. For more information, contact an 
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi 
Service Facility, or call Audi customer support 
at 1-800-822-2834. 
      
Front seats 
General information 
Make sure that: 
— You can press the pedals down completely 
while your legs are slightly bent 
— The distance between your upper body and the 
steering wheel or instrument panel is at least 
10 inches (25 cm) 
— The distance between your knees and the in- 
strument panel is at least 4 inches (10 cm) 
53 
>  

Sitting correctly and safely 
  
> Insert a suitable tool such as the the vehicle key 
or mechanical key into the release point on the 
base (@) and press the button (2). Pull the head 
restraint out of the backrest at the same time 
> AZ in General information on page 57. 
Installing the headrests 
Applies to: vehicles with removable head restraints 
> Fold the backrest forward slightly > page 75. 
> Slide  the posts on the head restraint down into 
the guides until the posts click into place. 
> Press the button @) and slide the head restraint 
all the way down. It should not be possible to 
remove the head restraint from the backrest 
without pressing the button. 
Safety belts 
Each seat is equipped with a three-point safety 
belt. Safety belts that are worn correctly are the 
most effective way to reduce the risk  of serious or 
fatal injuries in a collision. Therefore, wear your 
safety belt correctly and make sure that all vehi- 
cle passengers are also wearing their safety belts 
correctly when the vehicle is moving. 
Even though your vehicle is equipped with an air- 
bag system, every vehicle passenger must still al- 
ways wear the appropriate safety belt. In addi- 
tion to their normal protective function, safety 
belts also hold vehicle occupants in the correct 
seating position in the event of a collision so that 
the airbags can deploy correctly and provide addi- 
tional protection. Safety belts provide protection 
during collisions when the airbags do not deploy 
or if they have already deployed. 
  
Z\ WARNING 
The risk of serious or fatal injury increases if 
the safety belt is not fastened, if  it is worn in- 
correctly, or if it is damaged. 
— All vehicle occupants, including the driver, 
must fasten their safety belts correctly be- 
fore every trip and must always keep their 
safety belts fastened during the trip, regard- 
less of whether the seat is equipped with an 
airbag or not. This also applies to children 
      
58 
  
  
that are seated in a child safety seat  that is 
appropriate for their weight and age and 
that is secured with a safety belt. 
In the event of a collision, vehicle occupants 
that are not wearing safety belts could be 
propelled through the vehicle interior and 
collide with vehicle components, such as the 
steering wheel, instrument panel, wind- 
shield, or doors. In some situations, vehicle 
occupants could also be ejected from the ve- 
hicle. Vehicle occupants in the rear seats 
who do not wear safety belts not only en- 
danger themselves, but also other people in 
the vehicle. 
Only one person may be fastened with a 
safety belt at a time. Never secure more 
than one person, including children,  with a 
single safety belt. 
Never allow children or infants to ride on  an- 
other person's lap and be belted into the 
safety belt with them. 
Insert the belt buckle only in the belt latch 
belonging to the corresponding seat, so that 
the protective function is not impaired. 
To ensure the maximum protective function 
of the safety belts, all vehicle passengers 
must sit in the correct seating position 
=> page 53. 
Check the condition of your vehicle’s safety 
belts regularly. If you find damage to the 
belt webbing, the belt connections, the re- 
tractor, or the buckle, have the damaged 
safety belt replaced by an authorized Audi 
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility. 
The safety belts must not be removed or 
modified in any way. Do not attempt to re- 
pair the safety belts yourself. 
Safety belts that are strained during an  acci- 
dent, and thus stretched, must be replaced 
by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized 
Audi Service Facility. 
     

83A012721BA 
Sitting correctly and safely 
  
Additional safety belt functions 
Safety belt retractor 
The safety belts are equipped with an automatic 
belt retractor. This automatic retractor allows the 
safety belt to be pulled all the way out when the 
belt is pulled slowly. However, the automatic re- 
tractor locks during sudden braking maneuvers. 
It also locks the belts when accelerating, driving 
uphill, and driving around curves. 
Belt force limiter 
Safety belts with belt force limiters reduce the 
force placed on the body by the safety belts dur- 
ing a collision. 
Safety belt pretensioners 
In certain driving situations, safety belts may be 
tightened with reversible belt tensioners when 
you start driving. If the safety belt is too loose, it 
will be tightened so that the belt will rest closer 
to the body. 
In some collisions, pyrotechnic belt tensioners 
may secure the safety belts so that they cannot 
loosen. This reduces forward movement by the 
vehicle passengers. 
  
ZA WARNING 
The pyrotechnic system can only provide pro- 
tection during one collision. If the pyrotechnic 
belt tensioners deploy, the pretensioning sys- 
tem must be replaced by an authorized Audi 
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility. 
G) Tips 
Smoke may be released when pyrotechnic belt 
tensioners deploy. This is not a sign of a vehi- 
cle fire. 
      
Airbag system 
ZA WARNING 
— If you have not fastened your safety belt, 
you are in an incorrect seating position, or 
you are too close to the airbag system, the 
  
        
  
airbag system will not be able to protect 
you. This increases the risk of serious or  fa- 
tal injuries. Make sure  that every vehicle 
passenger has their safety belt correctly fas- 
tened and is sitting in a correct seating posi- 
tion > page 53. This is necessary regardless 
of whether the seat is equipped with an air- 
bag or not. 
Never place your feet on the instrument 
panel, out of the window, or on the seat sur- 
faces. Never bend forward or lean on the 
door or the side window. Keep as far as pos- 
sible from the airbags so that they will not 
be obstructed in the event that the airbags 
deploy. Otherwise, serious  and possibly fatal 
injuries can occur if the airbags deploy. 
People, animals, or objects between the 
passengers and the airbag system can inter- 
fere with the correct deployment of the air- 
bag or can be thrown through the vehicle in- 
terior, increasing the risk of serious or fatal 
injuries. Make sure that nothing is located 
between the vehicle occupants and the air- 
bag system. Do not secure or transport any 
objects within the deployment zone of the 
airbag systems, especially on the steering 
wheel, on the instrument panel, on the 
doors, on the windows, or in the footwell. 
Never put  stickers on the airbag system cov- 
ers or cover them with any objects. 
Only lightweight clothing should be hung 
from the garment hooks in the vehicle. Do 
not use clothes hangers to hang clothing. 
The pockets of the clothing must not con- 
tain any heavy, breakable, or sharp-edged 
objects. This could impair the effectiveness 
of the side curtain airbags. 
You must not use seat or protective covers 
that are not specifically approved for use on 
Audi seats with side airbags. Since the side 
airbags deploy from the seat backrest,  such 
covers could impair the protective function 
of the side airbags. 
Damage to the original seat covers in the 
side airbag deployment area must always be 
repaired by an authorized Audi dealer or au- 
thorized Audi Service Facility. 
    
61  

Sitting correctly and safely 
  
  
— Airbag system components are installed at 
various locations in your vehicle. Incorrect 
work or repairs on the vehicle could damage 
the airbag system components or impair 
their functionality. This may prevent the air- 
bags from deploying or cause them to de- 
ploy incorrectly in the event of an accident, 
which increases the risk  of serious or fatal 
injuries. Only have an authorized Audi dealer 
or authorized Audi Service Facility make re- 
pairs or modifications to a vehicle. 
— The airbag system can only provide protec- 
tion during one collision. If there is another 
collision, the airbag system will not deploy 
again. If the airbag system has deployed, 
have it replaced immediately by an author- 
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service 
Facility. 
— Fine dust may appear if the airbags deploy. 
This is completely normal and does not indi- 
cate a fire in the vehicle. The fine dust can ir- 
ritate the skin and mucous membranes in 
the eyes and can cause difficulty breathing, 
particularly for individuals who have or have 
had asthma or other health issues  that af- 
fect breathing. Exit the vehicle or open the 
windows or doors to get access to fresh air. 
      
@ Tips 
If you are transporting children in the vehicle, 
read the information and follow the safety 
precautions > page 66. 
62 
Safety systems monitoring 
The Ba indicator light in the instrument cluster 
monitors the safety systems such as the airbags 
(including the control modules, sensors, and wir- 
ing) and the belt tensioners. It turns on when you 
switch the ignition on and  turns off after several 
seconds. 
If the Ea indicator light does not turn on when 
the ignition is switched on, does not turn off af- 
ter several seconds, or turns on or flashes while 
driving, there may be a malfunction in one of the 
safety systems. Drive to an authorized Audi deal- 
er or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately 
to have the malfunction corrected. 
  
ZA WARNING 
Have the malfunction in the safety systems in- 
spected immediately. Otherwise, there is a 
risk that the systems  may not activate during 
an accident, which increases the risk of seri- 
ous or fatal injury. 
       

Sitting correctly and safely 
  
within milliseconds. Inflated airbags reduce the 
movement of passengers wearing safety belts in 
the direction of the impact and thus help to re- 
duce the risk of injury. They can help to protect 
the head, upper body, and lap, for example.  How- 
ever, there is the possibility that airbag deploy- 
ment can cause injuries. 
The airbag system only works when the ignition 
is turned on. 
If you or other vehicle passengers have physical 
limitations that prevent sitting in a correct posi- 
tion, modifications to the vehicle may be neces- 
sary. For more information, contact an author- 
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili- 
ty, or call Audi customer support at 
1-800-822-2834. 
@) Tips 
The side curtain airbags in your vehicle have 
ejection mitigation functions. This reduces 
the risk of being ejected from the vehicle inte- 
rior during an accident, especially in the event 
of a vehicle rollover. 
Advanced airbag system 
  
Fig. 64 Headliner: indicator light to display the status of 
the front passenger's airbag 
The Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle has 
been certified to comply with the requirements 
of the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS) 208, as well as Canada Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 208 as applica- 
ble at the time your vehicle was manufactured. 
According to these requirements, the front  Ad- 
vanced Airbag System on the passenger’s side 
has been certified for “suppression” for infants 
approximately 12 months old and younger, and 
64 
for “low risk deployment” for children aged 3 to 
6 years old (as defined in the standard). 
The advanced airbag system will activate or deac- 
tivate the front passenger's airbag based on the 
occupancy of the seat. If a front airbag deploys 
during an accident, the deployment force will 
adapt to the passenger. 
Components 
The advanced airbag system consists of the fol- 
lowing components: 
— Front airbags in the steering wheel and in the 
instrument panel on the front passenger's side: 
these can protect the front passengers during 
an accident 
— Passenger occupant detection sensor in the 
front passenger's seat: this detects if the front 
passenger's seat is occupied (for example, by a 
person or a small child in a child safety seat) 
— Seat position sensors on the front seats: these 
determine the distance between the seat and 
the steering wheel or instrument panel 
— Sensors in the front seat belt latch: these de- 
tect if the safety belts are fastened 
— Indicator light 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #%, ON @ in the 
headliner: this indicates if the front passenger's 
airbag is activated or deactivated 
- ka indicator light in the instrument cluster: 
this monitors the function of the Advanced Air- 
bag System components to ensure they are 
functioning correctly 
How the components function together 
The passenger occupant detection sensor in the 
front passenger's seat detects if the front pas- 
senger's seat is occupied. The passenger occu- 
pant detection sensor measures the electrical ca- 
pacity on the front passenger’s seat. The pas- 
senger's airbag is activated or deactivated de- 
pending on the electrical capacity that is meas- 
ured. 
The passenger's airbag is activated if: 
— The electrical capacity is higher than the 
threshold stored in the control module  

83A012721BA 
Sitting correctly and safely 
  
— The electrical capacity is the same as  or greater 
than the electrical capacity of a typical adult 
The passenger's airbag is deactivated if: 
— The electrical capacity is lower than the thresh- 
old stored in the control module 
— The electrical capacity is the same as  or less 
than the electrical capacity of a typical one- 
year-old child in a child safety seat that has 
been used for certification in accordance with 
FMVSS 208 
If the front passenger's airbag is activated, the 
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ indicator light 
will turn on. If the front passenger's airbag is de- 
activated, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; 
indicator light will turn on. 
The deployment force of the front airbags adapts 
based on whether or not  the safety belt is used 
and the distance between the seat and the steer- 
ing wheel/instrument panel. For example, if a 
person is too close to the front airbag, the front 
airbag will deploy with less force to help reduce 
the risk of injury. 
Meaning of PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 3; ON 
® indicator light 
When the ignition is switched on, the system de- 
tects whether the front passenger's seat is occu- 
pied. PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; ON @ 
will turn on for several seconds during this proc- 
ess. Then it will indicate whether the front pas- 
senger's airbag is activated or deactivated. 
— PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #%%;: the front 
passenger's airbag is deactivated and will not 
deploy in the event of an accident. 
— PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®:: the front pas- 
senger's airbag is activated and could deploy in 
the event of an accident. 
If a change to the occupancy status of the front 
passenger's seat is detected 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #, ON @ will 
flash for several seconds and will then display the 
status of the front passenger's airbag. 
Always make sure the indicator light corresponds 
to the occupancy of the front passenger's seat. 
— Adults or individuals with a similar stature sit- 
ting in the front passenger seat: The front pas- 
senger's airbag must be activated. 
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ® must remain 
on. 
— Individuals with a smaller stature (for exam- 
ple, adolescents or smaller adults) sitting in 
the front passenger seat: The front passeng- 
er's airbag must be activated. 
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ® must remain 
on. Move the front passenger's seat as far back 
as possible. 
— Child in a child safety seat secured on the 
front passenger seat: The front passenger's air- 
bag must be deactivated. 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; must remain 
on. 
— Front passenger seat is not occupied: The front 
passenger's airbag must be deactivated. 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #, must remain 
on. 
  
ZA WARNING 
— An adult or a person with a small stature 
(such as a young person or small adult) seat- 
ed on the front passenger's seat will not be 
protected by the passenger's airbag in the 
event of a collision if the passenger's airbag 
is deactivated. This increases the risk of in- 
jury and death. Always make sure that 
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ remains on 
while driving. If 
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ does not 
turn on, make sure the front passenger is 
sitting correctly in the seat > page 53 and 
that there are  no objects covering the front 
passenger's seat  (such as blankets or pil- 
lows). If PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ® 
still does not turn on, the front passenger's 
seat must not be used. Drive to an author- 
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service 
Facility and have the airbag system inspect- 
ed. 
—Achild ina child safety seat on the front 
passenger's seat - especially in a rear-facing 
child safety seat - can receive a severe im- 
pact if the front passenger's airbag deploys, 
which increases the risk of serious or fatal 
      
65  

Sitting correctly and safely 
  
  
injury. Always secure child safety seats on 
the rear seats. If special circumstances re- 
quire the use of a child safety seat on the 
front passenger's seat, always make sure 
that PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF &%; re- 
mains on while driving. If 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #%, does not 
turn on, remove the child safety seat and in- 
stall it again according to the child safety 
seat manufacturer instructions. If 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF &%; still does 
not turn on, the front passenger's seat must 
not be used. Drive to an authorized Audi 
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility 
and have the airbag system inspected. 
— Fluids, electronic devices, or mechanical 
damage on the front passenger's seat may 
cause the front passenger seat occupant de- 
tection to malfunction. The system may 
then incorrectly detect if the front passeng- 
er's seat is occupied. As a result, it could de- 
ploy the front passenger’s airbag incorrectly 
or fail to deploy it, which increases the risk 
of serious or fatal injury. Make sure that no 
wet objects (such as a wet hand towel) and 
no fluids come into contact with the front 
passenger's seat cushion. If the front pas- 
senger's seat becomes wet, dry it immedi- 
ately. Make sure no electronic devices (such 
as a laptop or a retrofitted seat heater) are 
on the front passenger's seat. Do not trans- 
port any objects on or under the front pas- 
senger's seat. 
— Seat covers or protective covers may prevent 
the advanced airbag system from correctly 
detecting child safety seats or passengers in 
the front passenger's seat. You must not use 
seat covers or protective covers on the front 
passenger's seat that are not specifically ap- 
proved for use on Audi seats with an ad- 
vanced airbag system. 
      
Child safety seats 
General information 
When installing and using child safety seats, fol- 
low the information in this Owner's Manual, the 
applicable state and federal regulations, and the 
66 
manufacturer instructions for the child safety 
seat. 
You can also obtain useful and current informa- 
tion from the following sources: 
U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis- 
tration 
http://www.nhtsa.gov 
http://www.safercar.gov 
National SAFE KIDS Campaign 
http://www.safekids.org 
SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. 
http://www.carseat.org 
Transport Canada Information Centre 
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety 
Audi Customer Experience Center 
https://www.audiusa.com/help/contact-us 
https://www.audi.ca/ca/web/en/models/layer/ 
contact.html 
  
Z\ WARNING 
To reduce the risk  of serious or fatal injuries, 
children must always be secured in the vehicle 
with a child safety seat that is appropriate for 
their body size, weight, and age. 
— Children ages 12 and under must be trans- 
ported using the appropriate child safety 
seat. Note  differences in regulations be- 
tween states and countries. 
— Child safety seats secured incorrectly in the 
vehicle may cause serious or fatal injuries in 
the event of an accident. Always secure the 
child safety seat according to the manufac- 
turer instructions. 
— Children or babies must not under any cir- 
cumstances be held on the lap of the driver 
or other passengers while driving. 
— Do not secure more than one child in a child 
safety seat. 
— Never allow a child to sit in a child safety 
seat unsupervised. 
— Never allow children to ride unsecured in the 
vehicle or  to stand or kneel on the seats 
while driving. In the event of an accident, a 
child could be propelled through the vehicle. 
        

83A012721BA 
Sitting correctly and safely 
  
  
  
This can cause serious or fatal injuries for 
the child and passengers. 
— If children use an incorrect seating position 
while driving, they  have a higher risk  of in- 
jury during a sudden braking maneuver or 
accident. This especially applies to children 
in the front passenger's seat or children who 
have their head near the side airbag deploy- 
ment area, if the airbag system is deployed 
during an accident. This incorrect seating 
position can cause severe or even fatal inju- 
ries. 
— Make sure there is enough space in front of 
the child in the child safety seat. If necessa- 
ry, adjust the angle and position of the seat 
in front of the child safety seat. 
— The rear side of a forward-facing child safety 
seat should be positioned as close as possi- 
ble to the backrest on the vehicle seat. If the 
head restraints make it difficult to install a 
child safety seat, adjust or remove them 
=> page 57. Reinstall the head restraints im- 
mediately once the child safety seat has 
been removed. 
— Always make sure  that the backrest on the 
seat where the child safety seat is installed 
is securely locked in place and cannot move 
forward. Otherwise, the backrest where the 
child safety seat is secured could move for- 
ward in the event of an accident or other 
emergency situation. 
— NEVER use a rear-facing child safety seat on 
a seat with an ACTIVATED FRONT AIRBAG; 
this could cause DEATH or SERIOUS INJU- 
RIES to a CHILD. 
— Always secure child safety seats on the 
rear seats. If exceptional circumstances re- 
quire the child safety seat to be placed on 
the front passenger's seat, then the front 
passenger's airbag must be deactivated. 
Always make sure that 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF %; remains 
on while driving. If 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF %; does not 
turn on, remove the child safety seat and 
install it again according to the child safe- 
ty seat manufacturer instructions. If 
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #¥%; still 
    
does not turn on, the front passenger's 
seat must not be used. Drive to an author- 
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service 
Facility and have the airbag system in- 
spected. 
— If you must use a forward-facing child safety 
seat on the front passenger's seat, move the 
seat as far back as possible so that it is as 
far as possible from the front passenger's 
airbag. While doing this, make sure the seat 
can be adjusted all the way. A child in a child 
safety seat on the front passenger's seat can 
receive a severe impact if the front passeng- 
er's airbag deploys, which increases the risk 
of serious or fatal injury. 
— Replace the child safety seat after an acci- 
dent because there could be damage that is 
not visible. 
— Even if a child is not sitting in the child safe- 
ty seat, the child safety seat must be se- 
cured. An unsecured child safety seat may 
be thrown through the vehicle interior dur- 
ing sudden braking maneuvers or an  acci- 
dent. 
Correct positioning for children 
Always secure children in a child safety seat de- 
signed for the body size, weight, and age of the 
child. 
      
You can secure child safety seats in your vehicle 
using the lower LATCH anchors or the safety 
belts. You can also secure child safety seats to 
the top tether anchor. Depending on the child 
safety seat, it may also be necessary to secure it 
to the  top tether anchor. In Canada, securing for- 
ward-facing child safety seats to the top tether 
anchors is required by law. 
Always transport children in the rear seats 
Accident statistics show that children that are se- 
cured correctly in the rear seats are safer than in 
front seats. Always transport children in suitable 
child safety seats secured on the rear seats. 
67 
>